Tertiary education cuts leading to skills shortage

The National Government’s
cuts to postgraduate student allowances will add to
skills’ shortages, the Green Party said today.

Just
released research by the New Zealand Psychological Society
and the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists found
75 percent of undergraduate psychology students said they
were less likely to continue into postgraduate study without
an allowance. Psychologists require postgraduate level study
to complete their professional registration.

“New
Zealand already has a shortage of clinical, educational and
developmental psychologists and psychology is included on
New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list,” Green
Party student spokesperson Holly Walker said today.

“New
Zealand doesn’t have enough psychologists to meet demand
and now the National Government is making it really hard for
students to continue to study.

“The National Government
cut allowances to postgraduate students without any real
consideration of the impact that move would have on New
Zealand.

“Since these cuts came in some students have
withdrawn from clinical psychology programmes because they
can’t make ends meet.

“The industry research found 75
percent of undergraduate psychology students said they might
have to rethink their decision to continue on to postgrad
study.

“The figure was higher for Maori students - 85
percent said it would affect their decision to enter
postgraduate programme, this at a time when we have a
shortage of Maori psychologists and Maori are
overrepresented in negative mental health statistics,” Ms
Walker said.

Other professions have also been hit hard by
these cuts.

“It is dishonest for National to talk about
making New Zealand a more innovative, internationally
competitive nation when it has stripped away support for the
people who would do just that.

“We need smart tertiary
policy that invests in our future and that values the
contribution that higher education makes to our economy and
society.

“The Green Party has a bill to reinstate access
to student allowances for postgraduate students to ensure
talented bright New Zealanders reach their potential and
ensure we don’t have skills
shortages.”

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